Military Retirement Calculator
The “Should I stay to 20?” calculator. Estimate your pension under High-3 or BRS, project your TSP balance, see your lifetime pension value, and combine VA disability income — all using official 2026 pay tables.
Your Service Information
High-3 applies if you entered service before Jan 1, 2018 and did not opt into BRS. BRS applies if you entered on or after Jan 1, 2018, or opted in during the 2018 window.
TSP Contributions
Optional: VA Disability
Estimated Monthly Pension · 20 years · BRS
$2,480/mo
$29,760/year · 40.0% multiplier
Pension Breakdown
Based on 2026 rates
Lifetime Pension Value
TSP Projection (BRS)
Civilian Salary Equivalent
Based on a simplified ~22% effective federal tax rate estimate. Actual equivalent depends on your filing status, deductions, and state taxes.
High-3 Calculation Detail
Based on 2026 rates
What these numbers mean
A civilian would need to earn approximately $38K/year before taxes to replace your projected retirement income — because VA disability is 100% tax-free and military pensions are tax-exempt in 33+ states. The lifetime pension value of $1.93M is the compounding effect of COLA over roughly 39 years of collection.
You are 10 years from vesting your pension. The lifetime value of staying to 20 is approximately $1.93M.
BRS vs. High-3 Comparison
Projected Monthly Income Over Time(with 2.5% annual COLA)
Your retirement action plan
10 years from your pension
highStaying to 20 years vests a lifetime pension worth approximately $1.93M. That's the floor — every additional year adds more.
Compare BRS vs. High-3 in your situation
mediumUnder High-3 your pension would be $3,100/mo. Under BRS it's $2,480/mo — but your projected TSP adds $306/mo for a total of $2,786/mo.
Learn more →VA home loan benefit never expires after service
lowVeterans retain full VA loan eligibility — $0 down and no PMI — for life. This is one of the most valuable benefits that carries into retirement. Learn how veterans use it at VARefinance.com.
Learn more →Understanding Military Retirement
High-3 (Legacy) System
High-3 is the legacy defined-benefit pension for members who entered service before January 1, 2018 (or opted to stay in it during the 2018 window). The formula is:
The High-3 average is the average of your highest 36 months of base pay — typically the three years immediately before retirement. At 20 years, your multiplier is 50%; at 30 years, 75%.
BRS (Blended Retirement System)
BRS is mandatory for members who entered after January 1, 2018. It trades a slightly lower pension multiplier for TSP matching contributions:
Plus: DoD contributes 1% automatically and matches member contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 3%, then 50 cents per dollar on the next 2% — meaning 5% member contribution = 5% total government contribution. Matching begins at month 25 (start of year 3).
How High-3 Average Is Calculated
The DoD averages your base pay across the 36 consecutive months of highest pay. For most members, this is the final three years. This calculator uses the pay table rates for your retirement grade at retirement YOS, YOS−1, and YOS−2 and averages them — consistent with how DFAS applies the formula for a member retiring at their current grade without a promotion in the final year.
CRDP: Collecting Both Pension and VA Pay
Normally, military retirement pay is reduced dollar-for-dollar by VA compensation (the “VA waiver”). Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) eliminates this offset for retirees with 20+ years of service and a VA disability rating of 50% or higher. If you qualify, you receive the full pension amount AND the full VA compensation — both simultaneously.
BRS TSP Matching Math
The full government contribution structure under BRS:
- • 1% automatic contribution (day 1, always)
- • Dollar-for-dollar match on your first 3% (starts month 25)
- • 50¢ per dollar match on your next 2% (starts month 25)
- → Contribute 5% = receive 5% total from DoD
The Lifetime Value Number
The lifetime pension value adds up your projected monthly payments across your expected years of collection, applying 2.5% annual COLA to each year (the historical average for military retired pay cost-of-living adjustments). This is a nominal sum — not discounted to present value — and exists to illustrate the magnitude of the pension as an asset, not as a precise financial figure.
What this calculator does not include
- • Continuation Pay (BRS bonus at 8–12 years — varies by branch and year)
- • CRSC (Combat Related Special Compensation — separate program from CRDP)
- • SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan) premiums, which reduce retired pay if elected
- • State income taxes (33+ states exempt military retirement from state tax)
- • Part-time employment or Guard/Reserve retirement points (for non-active-duty retirements)
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only. Actual retirement pay depends on your individual service record, promotion history, and pay table changes over the course of your career. The High-3 average used here is estimated from 2026 pay table values at your selected retirement rank — it does not account for actual pay history, mid-career promotions, or future pay table adjustments. TSP projections assume a constant contribution rate and a fixed annual return; actual returns will vary. VA disability compensation amounts are from official 2026 VA rate tables (veteran alone, no dependents). CRDP eligibility requires 20+ years of qualifying service and a VA disability rating of 50% or higher — eligibility determinations are made by DFAS, not this calculator. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Verify all estimates with DFAS, your installation finance office, or an accredited military financial counselor.